Licence Guides · 6 min read · Updated 15 August 2026

P1 to P2 in NSW: Your Complete Licence Guide

If you've been driving on your red Ps for a while, the move to green Ps (P2) is refreshingly simple — no extra test, just a time requirement and an application. Here's exactly what's involved, what changes once you're on P2, and how the path continues to your full licence.

Step 1: Hold Your P1 for at Least 12 Months

Before you can apply for your P2 licence, you need to have held your P1 (red Ps) for a minimum of 12 months. Your P1 licence is only valid for 18 months in total, so it's worth applying for your green Ps within that window rather than letting it lapse.

Step 2: Apply — No Test Required

Unlike the move from learner to P1, going from P1 to P2 doesn't require sitting another driving test. Once you've held your P1 for 12 months, you can apply for your P2 licence directly, generally online or at a Service NSW centre.

What Changes on P2

Green Ps come with some easing of the P1 restrictions, but real conditions still apply:

• A speed limit of 100 km/h, even where the posted limit is higher
• Zero blood alcohol concentration, the same as P1
• No use of any mobile phone function while driving, including hands-free, loudspeaker, or GPS navigation
• A demerit point limit of 7 points in a 3-year period before your licence is suspended or renewal is refused (compared to 4 points on P1)
• All speeding offences still carry at least 4 demerit points, with additional suspensions for higher-range speeding

The P1-specific restrictions that ease on P2 include the peer passenger restriction for under-25 drivers and the requirement to display P plates in some situations — but always confirm your specific conditions on your licence, since some restrictions still depend on your age.

Step 3: Hold P2 for 24 Months, Then Apply for Your Full Licence

You'll need to hold your P2 licence for at least 24 months before you're eligible for your full, unrestricted licence. When that time is up, getting your full licence is straightforward: prove your identity, pass an eyesight test, and pay the licence fee — there's no further driving test required. One thing to watch: if you receive a demerit point suspension or a high-risk driving suspension during your P2 period, an additional 6 months is added to your total P2 time for each suspension, and that suspension time doesn't count toward your 24 months.

Staying Confident Behind the Wheel

The licence stages themselves are straightforward, but staying genuinely safe and confident — not just technically compliant — is what actually matters day to day. If you're finding certain situations still make you nervous even after passing your test, a Confidence Building lesson can help you work through them properly rather than just avoiding them.

This article reflects Transport for NSW provisional licence requirements as published at nsw.gov.au, current as of 2026. Requirements can change — always check the Transport for NSW P1 & P2 drivers page and the full driver licence page before relying on this guide.